* Control Variable

Including firm size in the model controls for factors such as relative bargaining power and size of the resource base that can affect supplier benefits. Larger suppliers may be more willing to make investments in training personnel. They may also have more experience in information systems use. Benefits to larger suppliers may therefore be systematically higher than those to smaller suppliers. However, larger suppliers may have existing IT and manufacturing operations that need considerable redesign to integrate with the retailer's processes (an issue likely to be less problematic for smaller suppliers). Incorporating size in the model controls for these extraneous effects.